Poll: Stabenow holds double-digit lead over James

U.S. Sen Debbie Stabenow, speaks while her Republican challenger John James waits for his turn during their debate Monday before the Detroit Economic Club.(Photo: Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News)Buy Photo

U.S. Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow is maintaining a double-digit lead over Republican opponent John James going into the final stretch of the Nov. 6 election, according to a new poll.

Stabenow, D-Lansing, has 53 percent of support compared with 36 percent for James, a Farmington Hills businessman and retired Army Apache helicopter pilot, according to the Detroit News-WDIV poll of 600 likely Michigan voters done Oct. 25-27.

"James has marginally chipped into Stabenow’s lead since early September – but his challenge remains that 30 percent of voters do not recognize his name," said Richard Czuba, head of the Lansing-based Glengariff Group that did the survey. "And Stabenow has consistently polled above the 50 percent level."

The results were little changed from a Sept. 30-Oct. 2 poll that showed Stabenow with an 18-point advantage — 53 percent of support for the 68-year-old incumbent compared with 37-year-old James' 35 percent. Third-party candidates received a combined 2.7 percent of support, while 8 percent were undecided.

The poll has a margin of error of plus-minus 4 percentage points.

The Senate polling results follow two debates this month and more fundraising support from President Donald Trump and the White House that has helped trim Stabenow's substantial fundraising advantage during the past month and a half.

James generated more than $3.6 million in the last quarter, doubling the $1.8 million for Stabenow in the same period and posting his first fundraising victory. He also generated more money than the incumbent in the first 17 days of October, $2 million to $471,000.

But Stabenow maintained a cash advantage with $2.8 million on hand to James' $1.8 million.

Vice President Mike Pence came to Michigan on Monday to make direct appeals for support of Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop of Rochester and 11th District candidate Lena Epstein of Bloomfield Township at a Waterford rally before heading to Grand Rapids for a Lincoln Day dinner stop where he will speak more about James.

Pence did give a couple of shout-outs of backing for James during the Waterford rally.